On the defensive end…
This is where Aaron Thompson has been the most impactful since joining the program. The hard-nosed guard is widely regarded as one of the better defenders in the Big East and that should hold true once again this season. Thompson is pesky with staying in front of opposing point guards and he often limits their ability to create open looks. Thompson is very quick and also exhibits strong instincts that lead to his fair share of steals.
Thompson’s steal rate has ranked in the top-10 of the Big East in each of the past two seasons and that will likely continue into 2019-20. Backcourt scorers make up the majority of the stars in the Big East and therefore having a stopper like AT is quite valuable. If he is able to avoid his nemesis of foul trouble this season, then Thompson’s impact on the defensive end will be tremendous.
It is impossible to measure defense in statistics so it is important to mention that AT definitely passes the eye test defensively. He consistently stays in front of his man and rarely makes reckless gambles for steals. Thompson is also a vocal leader on that end of the floor and greatly improves the overall team defense of the Dawgs. He will be the lone true point guard on the roster once again this season and will be tasked with playing ~30 minutes per game.
There are very little concerns regarding Thompson’s defense. If he is able to continue hustling at the same level as the past two seasons, he will post yet another strong defensive season. Butler’s defense may have struggled throughout last season but that was a frontcourt issue. Bryce Nze and Derrik Smits will help to improve that interior defense and that will help shine a light on how good AT is at the point.